Four best friends, a bunch of secrets, one night and one boy will tear them apart. Years later one of the woman will need her former friends to help track down her sons father, who disappeared before she even realized she was pregnant.
This is definitely a story about growing up, in a lot of areas and ways. There are so many moments that break your heart for what these woman lost with each other over the years. This book is definitely a reminder of how messy life can be and how we need our people around us.
This is a fast paced friendship novel with a little sleuthing thrown in.
If you are looking to pick this one up it hits shelves Oct 4 2023.
Thank you to @netgalley and @bookandttonic for letting me review this book.
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This is an evocative read about childhood friendship featuring four very different women but centred around Morgan who requires the help of her former friends Paige, Emily and Tiff to help her track down the father of her eighteen year old son. The friends had formed a secret mystery solving society at school which took advantage of the aspects of their individual personalities which each considered a gift - a concept in itself that makes you appreciate individuality and all the understated aspects of everyone. The friendships disintegrated within a few minutes due to the vindictive words and actions of one of their schoolmates at their leaving prom then weeks later Morgan discovered she was pregnant. Eighteen years on Morgan tracks down her former friends who are stunned to discover she has a son…and who his father is. The reluctant foursome work together to try to track him down but each still has secrets that could tear the tentative friendships apart, one of which is a real humdinger! This had some really relevant aspects to it such as the effect of the last few years on nhs staff as well as looking at the detrimental impact our school years can have on us and the impact our parents can have on us both good and bad. This was thoughtfully written and had some emotional as well as uplifting moments, fantastically well developed characters and some thought provoking moments. 9/10

When at school four girls were so close they were like sisters. They were all from different backgrounds and felt that each one had a gift- a special something, so they formed “The Secret Gift Society”. Morgan had logic through her love of maths and solving problems, Emily had kindness through looking after her mother, Tiff had empathy and Paige had a sixth sense, an intuition. They put these skills to good use and solved several issues for other pupils accordingly. Now it's nineteen years later and Morgan feels her son Olly should know who his father is- something she’s never felt able to tell him. She rallies her old friends to try and find him- only the last time they met there was a huge falling out and none of them have spoken to each other since. Can they get over the rift, let bygones be bygones and help out their friend and perhaps themselves at the same time as one of them has a secret which could blow the whole thing apart?

There is always something rather special about Samantha’s books. It’s a look at life from different perspectives and what some of us see or don’t see in our daily lives. Characters which many can relate to in one way or another bring real life home to the reader. Of camaraderie and that special friendship bond where nothing can stand in the way- keep swimming like Dory! 555. If you know, you know!
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